BERKELEY HEIGHTS, N.J.-Qualcomm Inc. has chosen DC-to-DC power converters from Lucent Technologies Inc. to power its next generation of satellite communications equipment, announced the companies.
The Lucent JW060 triple-output series of power modules are being installed in up to 200 of Qualcomm’s wireless ground station cabinets, called gateways.
Qualcomm is a partner in Globalstar, a network consisting of 48 low-earth-orbit satellites, which will provide voice, data and fax services worldwide. Lucent’s power supplies will be used in the Globalstar network.
Developed by Bell Labs, the power modules have a maximum power rating of 60 watts at a typical full-load efficiency of 87 percent. The converters, which provide three DC outputs, are about 2.5 inches long, 2.5 inches wide and a half inch high, with an input voltage range of 36 to 75 volts.
“Lucent’s new 60-watt triple output converters generate significantly lower electrical noise than any competitive product we have used, which is critical because these converters are utilized in our wireless systems’ sensitive radio receivers and upconverters,” said Rod Deakers, staff engineer and manager for power systems engineering at Qualcomm.
According to the Darnell Group, a California-based power industry market research business, the DC-to-DC converter market is expected to amount to $2.3 billion this year and will grow 10 percent annually to $3.5 billion by 2001.
